To me it seemed kindof dry in the left hand. This nocturne reminds me of a stomach-ache, (to be blunt) your recording gave me the impression of minor gas . I don't know how I can tell you to put more of a sickness feeling to it but I guess thats just my subjective opinion.

Really well played (may I say as usual ). I liked this Field nocturne better than the previous you submitted. Perhaps because it sounds closer to a Chopin composition which I am much more used to listen to.

The Chopin Nocturne is played with delicacy and feel, as you are really into the piece and leaves little to be wished for. In my edition, the RH chord in bar 26 is arpeggiated and in bar 34, you play a trill in RH in the ascending RH 10 which is not in my score.
I am used to a slightly higher tempo and more power and tension in the bars 38-42 (bar 40 is marked ff in my edition) but this is more a matter of taste and I know that the Edirol evens out the dynamics a bit.

Johnmar, you're right about the pedal. There are days when my foot just won't do what I want. And after 2,000 takes, the connection between my brain, hands, and feet is all mixed up. I'm also blaming the full moon that was out yesterday.

Robert, I too have heard this nocturne played at a faster tempo, but I just don't like it that way. Probably because I can't play it any faster. Interesting you show those differences in scores.

_________________"Simplicity is the highest goal, achievable when you have overcome all difficulties." ~ Frederic Chopin

To me it seemed kindof dry in the left hand. This nocturne reminds me of a stomach-ache, (to be blunt) your recording gave me the impression of minor gas . I don't know how I can tell you to put more of a sickness feeling to it but I guess thats just my subjective opinion.

Oh, juufa...

(Chopin Nocturne) The ornaments were nicely articulated, BTW. I liked your use of the soft pedal in the pp sections, they were nicely contrasted with the rest of the piece. Something a bit off in the timing of the pedal here and there but not enough to affect the rec. negatively. Maybe the intonation of the piano is what ailed your foot? (If my piano is just a little out of tune, I have similar problems.)

I liked it, as per usual. Encore!

(Field Nocturne) I don't know this piece well enough to make an objective comment, so I'll comment at the risk of being subjective. There are many good things here. The ornaments (as well as the very end) were very sweetly played. Still, I felt like I wanted to hear more expression, more of a nocturnal feel instead of a classical mood throughout the piece. Maybe a more relaxed tempo with a more distinct duple feel to the bass and more cantabile melodic lines would do it?

I noticed whenever r.h. ornaments were played, your l.h. fell perfectly in line as you held the pedal. (I think I'm hearing tension in your feet and/or your l.h. Does that make sense?)

Still, I felt like I wanted to hear more expression, more of a nocturnal feel instead of a classical mood throughout the piece. Maybe a more relaxed tempo with a more distinct duple feel to the bass and more cantabile melodic lines would do it?

I noticed whenever r.h. ornaments were played, your l.h. fell perfectly in line as you held the pedal. (I think I'm hearing tension in your feet and/or your l.h. Does that make sense?)

Thanks, PJF. I think you're right about the Field Nocturne. Now I think it should be more relaxed.
And yes, I have a lot of tension in my body when I play. It's a problem for me. I need a message. A very, very long one.
I don't know what's going on with my pedalling lately.
I'm going to re-record this one when my kids wake up.

_________________"Simplicity is the highest goal, achievable when you have overcome all difficulties." ~ Frederic Chopin

Just listened to the first Field version, which I had downloaded at home this morning and put on my USB stick. Very steadily played ! I much admire your firm touch and rhythm, as well as your accuracy. I like the way you play the sections with the repeating chords. Not a mightily interesting Nocturne, but not one of the worst either. You do it proud, and perhaps being clear-eyed and steady works better in Field than getting sentimental. But, it could still be this needs a bit more relaxation and poetry. I'll listen to your second version tonight, unless you care to mail it to me.

The Chopin is impressive and sonorous, and as good as note perfect. The various flourishes are very well executed. This, too, could perhaps be just a little more rleaxed, but it does not really have to - this work seems to have a certain tension of itself. If I must niggle at all, it's that you are using too much pedal in places, and that sometimes the last note of your LH triplets can't be heard (or was that in the Field ? anyway, this is a problem that I also have).

Say, Monica, heaving learned you are a writer (or was to that supposed to remain a secret ?), any chance you can provide a Field bio for the site ? I mean not just grab a text from Wikipedia but actually compile something mildly unique from various sources ? I did this for all the recent bios I added but it takes so much time and I am getting fat and lazy If you want to do it, look at some existing recent ones (e.g. Turina or Sibelius) for the template and style. Basically three parts : life overview - important compositions - piano works. I'd be much obliged !

That looks great, thanks Monica. Saves me a lot of time (still haven't finished the Busoni bio )
Only thing is that it seems a bit long compared the other bios. I may want to prune it a bit here and there but will ask your blessng before doing so.

The 2nd Nocturne version is indeed a lot nicer ! Sensitive without being sentimental, and no sign of tension. I'll definitely put this one up, I guarantee you that this will be a popular download.

I like your both Nocturne interpretations. Some play the Chopin Nocturne a bit faster so that the runs sound more virtuous, but after all its Andante, and your tempo is certainly ok so.

For my taste, both could be played a bit more dreamery, softer. I accociate Nocturnes (not all, but these here belong to the group) with night pieces, candle lights and beeing very relaxed.

Nothing to niggle note wise (I don't have the Field Nocturne score however) on the Chopin, beside bar 24 (you play rh c# instead c) and similar place bar 48 (you play rh f# instead f). This is according to my Peters score, and also to the sheetmusicarchive score (however they differ on certain other places, so maybe you have a third different score).

Oh my God!!! I can't believe you're right about the Rh in bar 24 and 48. I have never seen that until just now. I missed a d# also in bar 24 but jeez, I can't understand how I missed those two. Do I need to re-record this? I really don't want to.

And I can play softer. Just turn down your speakers.

Thanks Olaf. I missed you the past couple weeks.

_________________"Simplicity is the highest goal, achievable when you have overcome all difficulties." ~ Frederic Chopin

Oh my God!!! I can't believe you're right about the Rh in bar 24 and 48. I have never seen that until just now. I missed a d# also in bar 24 but jeez, I can't understand how I missed those two. Do I need to re-record this? I really don't want to.

Of course no re-record because that!!!The funny thing, it sounds just more natural that way, and the score notes sound strange. I often (no, not right, very often) tend to play what sounds right and not what is written (my old piano teacher told me more than once, I should not guess which notes to play, instead better watch).

pianolady wrote:

And I can play softer. Just turn down your speakers.

Good tip . Ok, I meant more mellow playing maybe. Can't adjust that on my speakers unfortunately ...

Shite... seems I have missed these wrong notes in the Chopin What is the world coming to. I could say in defense that I have hardly ever played this one.
In any case they sound perfectly allright otherwise I would have balked. So just leave them !

Shite... seems I have missed these wrong notes in the Chopin What is the world coming to. I could say in defense that I have hardly ever played this one.In any case they sound perfectly allright otherwise I would have balked. So just leave them !

I was going to say something about that. Like, "What's wrong with Chris? He must be sick."

_________________"Simplicity is the highest goal, achievable when you have overcome all difficulties." ~ Frederic Chopin

Thank you, Chris. It looks fine.btw, I had no idea you wrote all the bios. Wow, what a lot of work!

Not all of them, but most of them since I started doing stuff for PS, and actually rewrote some that were already there. I feel we must provide something different, not just rip something off the web. So I always combine several sources but indeed that takes considerable time if you want to do it properly. I am very glad if members can assist in this. So thanks for that, and I may be calling on you again one day

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